Selimiye Mosque, Edirne

Restoration of the minarets, doors, and windows of Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the northwestern province of Edirne, has been completed, while decorative painting and plaster ornamentation are still ongoing, according to Edirne Foundations Regional Director Ahmet Saraç.

The 40-month restoration process has begun in the 446-year-old Selimiye Mosque, one of the masterpieces of Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect, in the northwestern province of Edirne, the provincial directorate for foundations has announced.

"The illuminated minarets [of the mosque] will be seen by the Greek side," Osman Güneren told İhlas News Agency on Nov. 30.

With a mission to promote the traditional art of handmade İznik tiles, which disappeared 400 years ago without a trace, the İznik Foundation has been making efforts to keep the art alive by producing these exceptional pieces of work in its workshop in İznik.

These tiles are produced with original recipes from 600 years ago with traditional production methods.